Greetings, blessings and a Happy New Year to all!  I write to you today with a heart full of joy and anticipation as we begin this new year.  I am excited because I know that God has special plans for us this year.  I am still excited about all that He did last year.  I thank all of you for stepping up when you were needed most and being willing to serve where you were needed.  We have had great loss in our church family this past year and we have been blessed greatly through our loss.  Thank God for saying that He would not leave nor forsake us, but would go with us through everything.  What a blessing to know that we will never face anything alone.  God turns tragedy into triumph.  Praise His Name!

Please be praying for direction for this year.  I want to be receptive to everything that God desires for us.  It all begins with our decision to give God permission to work in our lives.  Permission means that our lives are dedicated to Him.  It is then that He can and will work His wonder in all things.

Remember Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 

Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith, give Him permission to use you today.

Until He Comes

Arlie

As we begin another year together  I think of how far God has brought us.  How He has blessed us as families and as a church family.  God is good ALL THE TIME.  Even in the valley of our circumstances we can know that He is with us and walking every step by our side.  We do not have to face on thing in life by ourselves.  What a joy and peace to know.  As we look back to see how far God has brought us, and I do think it is good to reflect on where we started but I do not think it is good to go back to stay in that time and place.  But after we look back we must look ahead to where God wants to take us.  We must let go of things in our past that hold us back and pull us down.  I believe when we hold on to things in our past we hinder our future.  We cannot be all God wants us to be by holding on to hurts, things we have done we know was wrong or holding on to things people have done to hurt us.  We have to let go.  Holding on to hurts will make us angry, sad and just plain miserable, and that is not how we as a child of God should be.  We should be full of joy and hope.  Oh, I know everyday is not going to go just like we want it to go, but we can still have joy and peace.  We can make a choice to be positive and trust God in all things.  God loves us and He wants the very best for us.  So as we start a new year, let’s seek God and his will for our lives.  He has a plan for you and me.  Jeremiah 29:11  I want to challenge each one of us to read Galatians 5:22-26 each day and use this scripture to live by.  If we want the fruit of the spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to His.  We must know Him, love Him, remember Him and imitate Him.  I am looking forward to a wonderful year in Christ.  God is doing a great work here at Meadow Ridge Church.  Please continue to be open to His voice and hear what He wants to do in your life.  There is no limit to what God can do and where He can take us through His grace and strength.  I love you and look forward to serving along side you in 2012.  Lead us gentle shepherd!

See you in church

Kathy